Israel intercepted 'vast majority' of aerial targets - IDF
Photo: Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari (wikipedia.org)
During a nighttime attack from Iran utilizing rockets and drones, Israel's air defense forces intercepted the "vast majority" of aerial targets, reports the press service of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
In a statement, it's indicated that the majority of missiles launched from Iran were intercepted outside Israel's borders.
According to the IDF, dozens of "ground-to-ground" missile launches were recently detected from Iran, approaching Israeli territory.
"The IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted the majority of the launches using the "Arrow" Aerial Defense System, together with Israel's strategic allies, before the launches crossed into Israeli territory," the release states.
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari noted that Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel, causing minor damage to a military base. One of the strikes resulted in the injury of a young girl in the Negev, with additional strikes causing "minor infrastructure damage" at a military base in southern Israel.
The IDF representative added that, according to medical personnel, the injured girl sustained wounds from shrapnel as a result of intercepting enemy targets.
Hagari stated that most of the missiles were intercepted by the long-range Arrow air defense system. The missiles were mostly downed outside Israel's airspace, the rear admiral noted.
The IDF spokesperson also mentioned that fighter jets intercepted dozens of cruise missiles and drones. Overall, Iran launched over 200 aerial attack assets towards Israel.
"Dozens of IAF fighter jets are currently operating to intercept all aerial threats approaching Israeli territory," he emphasized.
According to the IDF's estimates, Iran launched over 200 "different types" of drones, including kamikaze drones, as well as ballistic and cruise missiles, said Hagari in response to CNN's inquiries.
Iran's mass attack on Israel
On the evening of April 13, Iran launched hundreds of drones into Israeli territory, calling it a "response" to a missile strike on the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus earlier in the month.
Following the start of the nighttime attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recorded a video address to the citizens of the country, stating that Israel is prepared for a direct attack from Iran and will respond in kind.
As reported by the Times of Israel, citing Channel 12, Israel has already begun intercepting Iranian drones over Jordan and Syria.
According to KAN radio station, Israeli missile defense systems shot down dozens of Iranian ballistic missiles in the skies over Jerusalem and other areas of Israel. Western media also reported that US missile defense systems in the Middle East intercepted several Iranian drones.
The Israeli press writes that the country plans a "serious response" to the unprecedented drone launch from Iran's territory.
It has also been reported that today Iran launched over 200 drones and approximately 150 missiles towards Israeli territory.
